Little People, Big Wedding!

Okay, I'm aware that this is ridiculously goofy, but I just have to share it. I mean, if the hive doesn't appreciate it, who else will?

There are a ton of kitschy/cutesy cake toppers that I - and such a ton of others, I'm sure - would love to have on their cake, like these Giraffes (of course) for instance:

Or these super cute Snowman:

I mean, really, there are a ton of things to top your cake with, and boy-oh-boy do I plan on blogging about it later, but for now I have one specific idea to share with you guys.

The other day I was in the grocery store and on my way to the pharmacy, walked through the one toy aisle in the store. I was kind of glancing at the toys as I went by, and y'know what my eyes stopped on at the end of the aisle?

Why, Little People of course!

(source)

You guys, this got me thinking. See, I grew up with Little People. For realises. I have many a memory of them from when I was a wee little Giraffe. Of course, in my day, they looked more like this:

(source)

Don't those little guys remind you of those mini people shaped cake toppers that are like Hansel and so hot right now? Y'know, like these guys:

(source)

So, right! I totally know they do! I'm sure you guys know where I'm going with this. . . You could totally stick Little People on your cake! It would be all nostalgic and adorable and hip and cool and pop and fresh!

This bride and groom clearly dressed for the occasion:

(Source)

And this groom went out and got his beard all trimmed to look good for the big day:

(source)

And, well, I know some hive members like to include their pets on top of their cake.

(source)

You guys don't have to tell me; I know you love them.

Anybody getting a little silly with their cake topper?

Go, go, gadget colors!

Hive, I don't know why I haven't talked out this sooner! I should have blogged about this right away because this was the very first wedding decision we made - and, for me personally, one of the most important decisions!

When Mr. Giraffe and I got engaged, I was still in college, attending school to get my BS in art (with a concentration in graphic design), this means that those semesters of print making, art history, and that bit of color theory were all super fresh in my mind and I was dealing with color everyday. Color still plays a big huge part in everything I do, and what I do every day.

As soon as we got engaged, I was over the moon about getting to pick our colors. In my mind, the colors set the tone for the whole day, and it provides a great way in which to tie all your wedding elements together.

I'm known for changing my mind constantly, or choosing something and then changing my mind at least a dozen times. . . But our wedding colors? No way! In a total uncharacteristic move on my part, I picked our colors and haven't wavered on my decision once.

So, what's it gonna be? Well, let me show you!

Mmmmm, a beautiful powder blue, chocolate brown, and accents of sage green!!! Wait, that needed more exclamation points; here we go!!!!!!!!!!!

I know, right?! Amazing and totally perfect for a spring time wedding!

And because, I'm completely obsessed, here's our perfectly perfect colors set up a few different ways just so you can see how wonderfully they work together.

When choosing colors, I can't tell you exactly why, but I knew exactly what I wanted right away. I'm completely obsessed with brown so that was a given, and I always lean towards cooler colors so I think that's why I went with blue. I also associate it with being formal so that helps me set the mood I want, and -bonus- it's Mr. Giraffe's favorite color.

I knew I wanted a small color palette, just because my anal retentive mind couldn't handle organizing more than that. I wanted an accent color so I choose the green because it makes me think "spring!" and I love how it looks with both brown and blue.

What I didn't realize when making this (what I think is a) giant decision, is how hard it is to plan a brown and blue wedding! No joke! Blue weddings are either brown and tiffany blue (which isn't the same as powder blue, thankyouverymuch) or blue and black! (source 1, source 2) That Tiffany blue is everywhere! Who invited it here? Just kidding!

So, perfectly powder blue and brown may not be the easiest color palette to work with, but its one of the things I most excited about when it comes to the wedding, for serious.

Don't worry though, hive, we've found all sorts of ways to work our perfect shade of blue into this wedding business, but that is a post for another time!

Anybody else follow their color loving heart when it comes to their color scheme?

The STD that Didn't make the Cut

One of my favorite comments I've got on a post was something along the lines of, "Wow - 3 posts about STDs and you haven't made a decision yet. If you don't make one soon, you'll never be ready by May!" It made me laugh because it's so true, but it also made me smile because, I swear, Mr. G says something along those lines to me every single time we're talking about wedding projects.

But, yes, it's true, I've talked a lot about STDs. Invite & STD inspiration posts are some of my favorite to read and follow (and I'm sure there's others like me) so, in the words of Mr. Mathers, I ani't quite finished yet.

Our actual Save the Dates aren't quite ready for their WeddingBee debut, but today I wanted to share an STD that didn't quite make the cut. Our wedding guests won't get to see it, but I wanted to share because this little guy grew on me for a little while. (That and I love following people's design processes).

I designed this at the point where I didn't want a magnet and I was obsessed with the 9#x4" size - and I was obsessed with that size for a good couple of weeks.

Mama Giraffe kept asking me why my name was bigger than Mr. Giraffe's . . . I swear, it just happened that way. I totally didn't plan it . . . Really. . .

Also, I feel compelled to point out that I have another version of this one where Shoes and Socks got replaced with Batman and Robbin. We probably would've gone with that one if we had to choose (But only because Wolverine and Adamantium didn't have the same ring to it . . . ).

I've actually made sure to save all of the designs we didn't go with just so I could scrapbook them later :).

Anybody else going through a million versions of their Save the Dates?

Coming in a Bit Under-Average

There are somethings I would say I'm above average at, like y'know, making goofy faces, telling jokes, or sleeping. I would also say that there are somethings I'm average at like ummm not being angry in Chicago rush hour traffic, doing the electric slide, and getting stains out of laundry.

And, believe it or not, there are some things that this giraffe is under average at. I can think of two things for example. Number one, competitive eating, and number two. . . kissing guys before I get married?

Oh, I'm not saying I'm a bad kisser (and I'm sure that a certain Mr. Giraffe would agree ;-) hehe), but I'm talking about the number of people I have kissed.

I'm not sure I can 100% percent vouch for this statistic, seeing as I only heard it on the Mix's Eric and Kathy morning show, but I'm going with it nonetheless.

Are you read for this? Okay! The average women kisses 79 different men before she says "I Do."

source

Woah! Hold the phone here folks. Now, granted that this is all coming from personal experience, but doesn't that number seem kind of high? Like kind of really high? I mean, possibly ridiculously high? Naturally, I had to pause and count the number of guys I have kissed.

First, I have to drop a little disclaimer. I mean, I have kissed a few good guy friends on the cheek in my life time (the super awesome Best Man Nick comes to mind), but I didn't count that in my list because there was never anything romantic behind it.

Here's my list hive:

Guy #1 - This guy was actually my first kiss. We were together from uhhh 8th grade to sophomore year of high school. Granted, I don't know what this "together" means and I'm pretty sure we only kissed about 10 times in that whole period . . . but having a "boyfriend" at that time was cool, so I went with it.

Guy #2 - Once again we "dated" in high school for all of junior year. (to this day, I refuse to admit that it ever happened, its far too embarrassing to think about).

Guy #3 - Dated for a whopping 3 weeks the summer before my senior year of high school. I recall kissing. . . Ummm haven't talked to him since (thank goodness!).

Guy #4 - I actually look back on R fondly. . . we had a lot of good times and he was a super fun dude . . . and well, there was lots of kissing in my car in his driveway. . . Whatever, I was a senior in high school; it was cool. . . don't judge me haha.

Guy #5 - Mr. Giraffe! Looove him! Granted he did kiss me two days after we met, and that was a big deal at the time because he wasn't my boyfriend yet. (Hive, please disregard the fact that it should've have been a big deal that he had kissed me and I had only known him two days . . . or that we were exclusive only two days later. Ahhh, to be young again).

source

So that's it - no crazy hook ups, no making out in bars, never kissing someone I don't know (shh, Mr. G didn't count!), nothing out of the ordinary for this plain-ol-Giraffe, folks. Just a plain, under average, future Mrs Giraffe, this time around. . . but I'm perfectly okay with that :).

What's that phrase? You've got to kiss a lot of frogs?

source

I mean, I've honestly thought that I'd be under average here; I mean, I've always thought that having only kissed 5 people wasn't very many (Mr. G is at 3, if you're curious). . . but this makes me totally wonder about the rest of the world.

So hive, be honest, I won't judge; where do you fall on this one, above average, average, or under average?

So, you wanna plan a wedding kid?

Yes, its true, when titling this post I was thinking of that Disney Hercules song where whatshisface was singing, "Well, you want to be a hero, kid, well whoopdeedo."

Anyway, thats not important. What is important? That I was born to plan this wedding!

No, seriously, I was. That's why I get so excited about wedding planning, I think. I was trying to describe to Mr. Giraffe about why I'm planning all these DIY projects and crazy things and I finally told him, "I think of this wedding as the biggest craft project of my life, and I love craft projects!" I do, I really do. I love crafts and have been a crafty kid all my life, which I think led to me going into a creative feild as a semi-grown up.

I may not have a craft closet, like Terry...

But I do have a ping pong table in my parent's basement that I scrapbook on!
What craft supplies are on that ping pong table? Well let me tell you!


Cricut and Cartridges? Check!
A ridiculous amount of 12 x 12 paper? Check!
A bunch of 8.5 x 11 paper and chip board punch outs? Check!

Tags, chip board, adhesives, and punches? Check!
Crop A Dile and a bajillion (of perfectly organized) eyelets? Check!
A paper cutter or four? Check!
Too much ribbon? Check!

I have a 5" Xyron Sticker Maker in there somewhere too. Mama Giraffe actually got it for me for my 13th birthday, after the scrapbooking bug had bit me, and it still works great! I've gotten so much use out of that thing!

Also, Mama Giraffe is even more awesome because she got me a much-coveted Cuttlebug for Christmas! Whoo!

Anyone else plan on re-purpose-ing their everyday craft materials for wedding-a-palooza?

Engagement Photos (also called: Hot Giraffes & Cool Shoes)

BAM! I started off with that amazing photo to stun and take your guys' breath away! Got your attention now, don't I?!

Hive, I've been waiting and waiting and waiting to share these with you guys. Get ready to be totally overwhelmed with amazement! I can think of a few words to describe our photos (amazing, wonderful, unbelievable, best ever in the whole wide world, love, love love), but words really can't do them justice.

All photos taken & edited by the wonderfully talented Ryan & Sara Miller of Miller+Miller Photography. I felt totally awkward going into our E-pics because I'm not used to being in front of a camera, but Ryan & Sara were amazing and despite the fact that I was whispering to Mr. G as our photos were being taken ("Are they looking at us? Our they taking the photo, now?"), they did an amazing job. Ryan did the shooting and Sara did some amazing art direction and really helped us look good in front the camera.

The Millers know their stuff, hardcore, and I would recommend them to anyone (especially others who are worried their total awkwardness will show through in their photos)!

Now, like I said, since words can't do them justice, I will let the photos speak for themselves!

I swear I tried to narrow them down, I really did. That might even be too many photos for one post; I don't know!

Anyway - I love them! I'm sooooo happy with them!

The Millers are amazing! Feel free to visit their blog post of us for to see more photos (or to give them love)!

Anyone else pleasantly surprised by their E photos?

Another side to Mr. G

As much as I love Weddingbee for what it is (a wedding website); I also think its a relationship site too. I mean, I wouldn't be marrying Mr. Giraffe if I didn't have a relationship with him, and many girls (some guys too?) on the boards are either waiting to be engaged or are all ready married.

I had a super wedding-y post planned for today, but instead I'm going to talk a little bit about Mr. Giraffe's and my relationship.

You see, Mr. G is a music student teacher. He graduates in just a month (whoo so proud!) and all ready has a screening for an interview this week (everyone cross your fingers for him). He called me to tell me about the screening and, of course, I'm super excited for him, and hope hope hope it goes well. In my mind, I believe it'll go well because I believe in Mr. G, simple as that - it had nothing to do with my confidence (or lack there of) in him as a teacher.

I spent a Saturday with Mr. G at an extracirricular event for the Jr. High he student taught at and had a good time, but last night we did something a little bit different.

Last night I attended the "Second Grade Concert" for the middle school Mr. G has now been teaching at. Now, I know he goes to school every day, and we talk about it, and I saw him with the Jr. High kids before, but this was the very first time I got to see him as a teacher. I'd never seen him in that environment before.

It's kind of funny, if you think about it, because after 5 and a half years with him, I thought I knew all there was to know about my long-necked companion, but I was wrong.

I love kids, don't get me wrong, but I am never around them. I am the youngest of two and my youngest relative is only 2 years younger than me. Watching all those little ones pile onto risers as Mr. G got them all in order was a little overwhelming for me, and I was just sitting next to the parents with video cameras in the audience.

Let me tell you hive, it was such a joy to watch Mr. G. All the kids were on risers on a stage, and Mr. G was in front of his stage playing his guitar. When they sang a song about dancing, I watched Mr.G sway to the right as the kids watched him (and swayed with him, of course), and then sway to left and so on. Despite the fact his back was to me, Mr. G would turn his head to the side to look over all the kids, and I swear, I'd never seen him smile that big before.

I know he was smiling (partially) for the kids, but I could just tell he was happy. You guys know the feeling, right? When the person you love more than anything is happy, and you get that same warm, fuzzy, happy feeling in your chest?

Originally, Mr. G didn't even know if he was planning on going to college, and then when I met him at the beginning of college, he really didn't know what he wanted to do, and now. . . Well, it seems like now he is exactly where he wants to be. I couldn't be more thrilled with his decision, because it seems like he's really going to be doing something he loves for the rest of his life.

Not to mention the fact that watching him work with children makes me just so excited about how he'll be raising our own children (. . . must. . . wait. . . for babies).

I'm so used to seeing Mr. G as the "classically trained musician" who is quite the music snob, who points out pitches and melodies and all theses other musical things I don't understand. I'm not used to the Mr. G who calls me up to tell me about the little kindergartners he teaches three times a week (I asked him if kindergartners are even old enough to learn and he says they are).

I'm not surprised by this - I would say I'm more intrigued by this - but sometimes I feel like there is no possible way I could love G more than I all ready do, but then I learn something new about him, and I think my heart just has to swell to hold in all the love I have for him.

Everyday I'm with him, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world, and now knowing that's he's going to be happy with his future career choice. . . well, I feel just a little more lucky.

Anybody else still learning new things, after you've been with your person for a million years?

Have you seen this? Have you heard about this?

10 points to whoever knows where that title came from hehehe.

Anyway - I have some super more interesting posts coming up in the future - I promise- but I just had to share this first. I can't remember how I stumbled on it (even though it was just a few days ago haha) but I think it was a link from a link from another link.

We've all see the ceremony programs/fans, and know that they're super cute and adorable. How cute? Well let me show you!

(source)

(source)

(source)

(source)

(source)

(source)

But have you guys ever seen this?

Ahhhhh! I know! Hand Fan Outlet creates custom wedding fans with your photos on them. Firstly, think of all the DIY time you would save by ordering these and secondly ummm YOUR FACE! No really, your face... on a fan! My inner narcissist loves this idea. I mean whose face would I want on a program fan besides my own? Nobody's that's who!

(Semi) sadly we are not doing program fans. I mean, it would just be silly seeing as our wedding is indoors, but I have big plans for our programs (but that's still a few months away, folks calm down).

Plllllease tell me someone has done this?